Beyoncé: the most powerful women in music 2018: Pic: Wikimedia Commons/Kristopher Harris

Taylor Swift came second in the BBC’s Woman’s Hour annual list, with Adele and Sia also making the top 20

It’s a decision that will come as no surprise to fans across the world. Beyoncé is well-known for her activism supporting Black Lives Matter and victims of Hurricane Katrina, as well as her work as a feminist. The judges were unanimous in praising the singer’s achievements and naming her music’s most powerful women.

Dua Lipa, DJ and BBC Presenter Annie Mac and Wolf Alice’s Ellie Rowsell were also included on the list. But it’s not just artists and singers gracing this year’s list, there is an abundance of women who aren’t in the limelight but are doing their bit to champion women in the music industry.

Third on the list is PRS Foundation Chief Executive Vanessa Reed whose recent work includes Momentum – a talent development fund in partnership with Arts Council England, PPL and Spotify, and the international Keychange campaign which is working with music festivals to create a 50:50 gender balance on line-ups by 2022.

Broadcaster and judge Tina Daheley said: “She’s [Beyoncé] one of those people who’s absolutely in charge of her own destiny and she’s using that platform in a way that makes a difference: empowering black people in America, addressing injustice head-on and championing women.”

The list is made up of 40 women who were selected from a long-list of 100 names. Woman’s Hour publishes its Power List annually, changing the theme year-on-year.